Wednesday, August 05, 2009

My debut in The Atlantic... kinda/sorta

At the NYC premiere, Atlantic food editor Corby Kummer, who is an amazing writer and all-around lovely man, took time out from hanging out with his way-cooler-than-me friends to nag me (sweetly) about writing a piece for the magazine's food blog. And at last I did - you can see it here.

I'm also trying to dig up a link to the piece on Nightline last night, which I've not seen, because apparently it's impossible to get network television without cable in Queens, NY. As soon as I find it, it'll be up here....

19 Comments:

i'm a rather recent fan (read the book, missed the blog). as a fellow blogger though (albeit less click worthy), something that you do not mention in your self analysis is that content counts. if you write extremely well, and you do, they will come. and if they come in big enough numbers, and they did, you can get published.

blogs are one of the few ways to break the need-an-agent-to-get-published/need-to-be-published-to get-an-agent conundrum. your success is proof enough. and it is a shot in the arm to the rest of us schlubs, even if we are narcissistic, self-absorbed dreamers.

I enjoyed your article. You're very diplomatic when you discuss the film. Nora Ephron completely disregarded your writer's voice -- particularly your humor -- and, well ... she should be ashamed. The "Julie Powell" in the movie is just absolutely not you at all. When the bland character played by Amy Adams sighs and says Meg Ryan-like, "I'm a bitch," one has to laugh at the ridiculousness of that statement coming out of Amy Adams' mouth.

I'm so happy for your success. Your book keeps getting higher and higher on the NYT bestseller list. This second wave of success will bring a lot of new readers (many of whom are in for an eye-opening experience if they're familiar only with "Julie Powell" in the movie). I know you're grateful for what this movie has made possible, and I know you'll continue to be diplomatic, but I'm sure you long for the day when you won't have to submit to interviews in which you parse your words and smile sweetly when discussing "Nora" and her questionable adaptation skills.

I am a very late arrival to the Julie Powell Admiration Club: never heard of the blog, never read the book, a foodie only because my friends say I am. But I live in Hollywood and work in the film industry, and I adore the work of both Ms. Streep and Ms. Adams. So I had to see the film.

A week ago I gathered with a few hundred others for a special screening at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The audience was more grown-up and I'd say smarter than the average multiplex crowd. They laughed at the most subtle joke, sighed at the delicate moments, and I'm sure I was not the only one shedding a tear now and then.

We all loved it.

Which lead me to the two blogs. Which encouraged me to order the book. And now I am learning about the "other" Julie. It is distinct pleasure.

Read your book, was absolutely enthralled. Have to see the movie yet but wanted to say that I felt so furious at Nora Ephron on Good Morning America this morning. I feel like she never ONCE gave you props for anything. In fact the way her and D.S. spoke, you may as well have been a fictional person. Not to mention her carrying on about how she would think about Julia and channel her while cooking in the kitchen.. I mean come on! Give credit where credit is due!

Love the Atlanta article...haven't read your book or seen the movie yet...just another blogger who found your blog along the way. I've only been blogging for 18 months and enjoy the whole experience...fish bowl and all. Thanks for sharing your "ride" and keeping it all real. Fondly, Roberta

Just got on your bandwagon (book before blog, very excited about the movie) and loved what you had to say there.

As a reader of many fantastic books that have been turned into movies (or at least scripts) I've learned to take an adaptation as a separate entity otherwise I'd go mad with annoyance. Movies are marketed at a wholly different audience- they're meant to draw in the nonreaders and capitalize on an already adoring fanbase.

I enjoyed your book a great deal and I'm excited about the movie, but I'm not expecting to see you up there, because the book is a years' worth of blogging and cooking and movie is 2 hours and (likely) tons of montages. It just wouldn't work.

All that said, I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to write a book on your personal experience and have it be made into a movie (a definitely HIGH) only to find out that you are not "acceptable" to Hollywood (LOW right there)!

But in the end you kept it positive, which is very gracious of you. :)

(Random aside- I was poking around looking for news of you and ran across a blog in which a woman stated that you'd been through a demoralizing divorce- when in fact one of your commenters had- and had moved to the West Coast. So apparently you're living many separate and thoroughly exciting lives!)

I really liked your Atlantic piece. I used to work with John Grogan, who suffered a similar fate as you (major book, major motion picture) and he said similar things after Marley & Me came out. He felt he had to remind people that he was the real John Grogan and that the guy played by Owen Wilson was just...a guy played by Owen Wilson who happened to be named John Grogan. Interesting.

Anyway, I wrote a blog post that mentioned the article. Good luck with the tour and best of success.

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I saw it. I liked it. Now, I'll read the book. I would have read it sooner, but I actually won it on a blog, and the give away person moved slowly. It should arrive this week. I usually don't comment on blogs that have sooooo many comments already, but because I saw the movie a few hours ago . . .

I just finished the J&J book on 8/7/09 as my plane was coming in for a landing. I was laughing so much. It's a great memory for me.

As I finished it, I thought about how much I enjoyed reading YOUR words. I wondered how different the movie would be for me. Now, after reading this article...I wonder if I even want to see the movie. What I like about the book is...YOU! Your authenticy, your struggles (so similar to mine), your humor.

I can't wait to read more of YOUR words. I've never connected to an author before this. I'm glad I found you.

I can't tell you how much we enjoyed your movie. I will also tell you how the story brought 2 friends back together again. I had surgery and a friend of mine immediately made reservation to fly up and take care of me. She did not know the extent of the injury but knew I needed help. That was my first unexpected surprise. After seeing the movie, we were so taken with the idea of cooking from the book, that we went out an purchased Mastering...and planned a meal around it then next day. What great fun we had. The best thing was that my friend does not cook!!!As a thank you gift, I wanted to purchase your book and have you autograph it as a remembrance of our time together. If you can tell me how to do that, I would apprecite it. I can be reached atsarasamaha@msn.com

Hi Julie, I saw the movie today and loved it! I was very inspired by your story (although not sure what I am inspired to do!) and was anxious for more stories and to see the real blogs. I can't wait to read the book! Congratulations on your sucess!

I have just seen your movie for the fifth time, and you have truly become inspirational! You deserve everything you have worked for! I have to say, its awesome that you get to cook and talk about it all day! Keep up the great cooking....and great writing